In the article, an attempt is made to determine the key criteria by which it is possible to judge how much democratic is this or that political arrangement, and to formulate arguments in favor of the establishment of democracy in Russia. On this ground, extensive politico-sociological interpretation of the essence of democracy is presented, based on the idea of «jointly divided power». The author substantiates alternative vectors of political dynamics, as well as bifurcations of the trajectories of the Russian democratic transit, and for each bifurcation – a hypothetical complex of conditions for its successful passage. In conclusion, the main directions of activity are designated, that promote the formation of optimum conditions for the development of real democracy in Russia.